Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Director says Kekkwa never gave approval before this, while the dance group says it has done since in 2000, 2002, and 2006 (wonder why there are gaps in between).
Director cites smoke and smell in the enclosed area as one of the reason for the declination of approval. I guess the reason is a bit negative since sounds kind of intolerant attitude, especially coming from a head of culture and arts department. Plus the program is only about bharata arts so it would not have been offensive (how could it be offensive in the first place?) to others. Most (if not all) of the audience would have been the students, parents, arts enthusiasts only.
I hope this is actually a non-issue, and not something that Sivakumar purposely highlighted to claim some publicity.
IPOH: A row has broken out over the matter of a traditional prayer ceremony conducted before a dance performance.
The directors of an Indian classical dance school here were upset they were not allowed by the new state director of the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry (Kekkwa) office here to conduct the ceremony before their annual performance this year in Taman Budaya.
State Kekkwa director Ramli Salleh, however, said they had asked the organisers not to conduct the ceremony, as there was concern over the smoke and smell from the prayer items lingering in the enclosed auditorium. “We told them to just do the dance and they even agreed. Moreover, Kekkwa had never allowed them (to conduct the ceremony) in previous years,” he said.
Nritya Kalanjali dance school director P. Sasikumar, who runs the school with his instructor wife T. Sudha, said that it was customary among the community to honour Nataraja, the Lord of Dancers, before every Indian classical dance. “It is a simple ritual where we put a statue of Nataraja and an oil lamp on stage, and offer flowers and prayers before the performance,” he said after the event here on Monday night.
He said he and two other schools – Natya Kalamandir and Ananda Narthana Choodamani – had always offered prayers before a statue of Nataraja when performing at Taman Budaya in 2000, 2002 and 2006.
The three-hour performance, conducted with two other classical dance schools, kicked off at 8pm without the ceremony or any speech from guest-of-honour Perak assembly speaker V. Sivakumar.
Sivakumar later told reporters that the directive suggested a kind of “intolerance” against the practices of other cultures.
This is from the NST :
So the question in many people’s mind is why now ? Why it was previously allowed but this year it is being banned ?
Well, the answer is simple really. The govt is now controlled by PAS, that’s why.
For all the Indians in Perak who voted for PAS and PKR, I would like to say ” ROOBA NANDRI !!”
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For the record, this is not the first time that dancers from the three Bharatanatyam schools of Nrityakalanjali, Natyakalamandir and Anandanarthana Choodamani in the state had performed at the venue.
In the past, the dancers were allowed to offer their prayers on stage, said P. Sasikumar, who acted as the spokesman for the three dance schools.
“This time we were not allowed because the department imposed this condition.
“This is ridiculous. The pooja is an integral part of the performance and has been practised for hundreds of years,” he said before the start of the Bharatanatyam performance at Taman Budaya.
He said the practice of paying obeisance to Lord Nadaraja was important because the deity was worshipped as the king of dance.
In reply to Poobalan’s question on why there have been gap in between the dance performances in 2000, 2002 & 2006.. I’m a student of Natyakalamandir and we always have various collabos with Nrityakalanjali. The 2000,2002 and 2006 shows are performances conducted in the Taman Budaya Hall only.. we have annual programs in various venues, as the Taman Budaya Auditorium has limited seating (less than 80, if i’m not mistaken). The bigger annual shows are usually held at the Dewan Bandaraya as well at the Syuen Hotel Ballrom. Even at the ballroom of the Bangunan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Perak in 2000, the first ever indian cultural program to be held there. There at least 3-4 annual collabo performances by Nrityakalanjali, Natyakalamandir and Anandanarthana Choodamani held in Ipoh. Would just like to take this opportunity to do some promo on the classes.
Hi,
I just got transfered to Batu Gajah, Perak. I am actually trying to enrol my daughter for bharathanatyam and sangeetham class here.
Could you help me by providing contacts of classical music and dance teahers.
I would really appreciate your help.
Thank you
vanitha
Hi,
Can I have the contacts of Natyakalamandir, Nitya Kalanjali or Anandanarthana Choodamani?
I could not find it in the website.
Vanitha
looking for sangeetham class for my 7 year old son in Ipoh